BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Absentee ballots that were scheduled to hit the mail Friday, Sept. 6, have been delayed after the North Carolina Court of Appeals ordered the state to remove former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name from the ballot.

Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the presidential race in late August and endorsed former President Donald Trump, but his name remained on North Carolina’s ballot under the “We the People Party.” Kennedy requested his name be removed and that new ballots be printed before being sent to voters who requested them. The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted to reject RFK’s request, which he challenged in court. On Thursday, Sept. 5, a Wake County Superior Court denied RFK’s request once again. However, the court also issued a pause on sending out absentee ballots until noon Friday to allow an opportunity for appeal, which later proved to be successful for RJK.

Since suspending his campaign, RFK has tried getting his name off ballots in several other states where the race between Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican challenger Trump is expected to be close. “A favorable outcome for Kennedy could assist Trump’s efforts to win the presidential battleground of North Carolina,” an article from ABC News says. “Trump won the state’s electoral votes by just 1.3 percentage points over Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.”

An email from Buncombe County officials on Friday announced the developments, adding that no ballots would be mailed on Friday due to the court of appeals’ decision.

“Buncombe County’s Election Services is waiting for further guidance from the State Board of Elections and will keep Buncombe voters updated,” the email said. A county official told 828newsNOW they are in a sort of “holding pattern” until they receive guidance from the State Board of Elections.

The county board of elections emphasized that the process for voters remains the same. You may continue to request ballots, you do not need to submit your request again.

Here are key dates and deadlines for the 2024 general election in North Carolina:

  • Oct. 11: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.).*
  • Oct. 17: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available.
  • Oct. 29: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.).*
  • Nov. 2: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).
  • Nov. 5: General Election Day.
  • Nov. 5: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).*

*Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.